The rest of the poem

I have been posting John Updike's Calendar poems on this blog for over ten years.
A few months ago, or was it a year, I found his little book, his original poems, for sale online.

I loved each and every poem I read, but I knew that the references to God were missing from the originals.

I like references to God.  I like to include Him in the picture.
I believe He created this lovely world we inhabit, and I liked it back in the 1960's when this was okay with the general public.

The world's view may have changed, but I'm not budging.

This man was not moving. :op

NOVEMBER

The stripped and shapely

Maple grieves

The ghosts of her

Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,

as hard as stone.

The year is old,

The birds are flown.

And yet the world

in it's distress,

Displays a certain 

Loveliness--

The beauty of 

the bone.  Tall God

Must see our souls

This way, and Nod.

Give thanks: we do,

Each in his place

Around the table

During grace.

From A Child's Calendar by John Updike (1965)

I think those last two stanzas are challenging, 

but the depth is beautiful.

That God sees our souls....and they are lovely.

It's so touching I could cry.

Encourage one another,

Donna